Alfonso Pollard

The AFM Celebrates Confirmation of the First African American Woman to the US Supreme Court

May 1, 2022

It always gives me great pleasure to celebrate the placement of longtime supporters and practitioners of the arts into powerful positions in the federal government. The arts do indeed matter to people like Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Her appointment gives the Supreme Court personal insight into the lives and work of artists and entertainment professionals. […]

Legislative Progress Report—Help Us Help You
by Moving These Bills Forward

March 1, 2022

With our focus right now on Capitol Hill, two pieces of critical legislation guide our actions. HR 4130, the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), is now the primary focus of our legislative work and of this month’s International Musician. AFM President Ray Hair’s column focuses on the merits of the legislation and explains the details […]

Recognizing the Fertile Partnership Between the AFM and the Congressional Black Caucus

February 1, 2022

As America moves into the 2022 celebration of Black History Month, I thought it appropriate to review the intrinsic value of the active partnership between the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and the AFM, as well as its overall relationship with organized labor and progressive policy. African Americans first made an appearance as elected officials in […]

Coalition Work Is Key to Our Success for the Remainder of the 117th Congress

December 1, 2021

As we count down to the passage of our two most important remaining music issues in this Congress, partnering with our allies and counterparts will lead to our success. Our labor coalition has branched out and embraced others in the music industry that often lobby an alternate agenda. This time around, the two remaining issues […]

The Advantages of Union Membership Equate to Federal and State Benefits for AFM Musicians

November 1, 2021

The American labor movement has been, is, and will continue to be among the most powerful, influential advocate for working women and men. Labor’s highly respected voice, whether sought out or not, on either side of the political aisle, and in each of the three branches of the US government, is considered equal to any […]

AFM Members Unite Around AMFA Campaign

October 1, 2021

As noted in the August International Musician, we have begun an internal campaign to advocate for passage of H.R 4130, the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA). This performance rights bill is designed to provide royalty payments to artists, session musicians, and vocalists when their recordings are performed and broadcast over AM and FM radio. AFM […]

American Music Fairness Act: Long Overdue Royalty Payments for Recording Musicians

July 29, 2021

You’re an active, successful session musician who grew up and learned by listening to your favorite players, then yourself, and your session buddies, over AM/FM radio every day when you drove your car. But in this new world of subscription radio, you’ve cut back listening to music on terrestrial radio because the last time you […]

The PRO Act: Why This Should Matter to You

June 1, 2021

Not only will the Protecting the Right to Organize Act (PRO Act) restore the right of workers to freely and fairly form a union, this landmark worker empowerment, civil rights, and economic stimulus legislation will also help us build back better following the pandemic and recession.  As we recover from the pandemic and economic recession, the […]

The PRO Act: the Logic Behind Labor Law Reform in 2021

May 1, 2021

While we all know that organizing is the lifeblood of the American labor movement, bargaining that elusive first contract is always one of our biggest challenges. After four years of incessant anti-union political rhetoric designed to weaken trust in and break the back of organized labor, union leadership refused to fold. Instead, they have helped […]

The AFM Directive that Brought Our Pension Efforts to Fruition

April 1, 2021

It was truly a remarkable moment in the history of this, our musicians’ union, when after four years of dedicated lobbying and political wrangling, AFM International President Ray Hair stood before the International Executive Board (IEB) and unequivocally pronounced to all senior staff and board members that it was time for “all hands on deck” […]